Mr. Burris, a prominent minister, evangelist, and head of The Latter Rain Ministries, attended the opening night of Shen Yun at the RP Funding Center’s Youkey Theatre in Lakeland on Feb. 3.
“It was very inspirational and uplifting,” Mr. Burris said. “It was about … salvation, and how we need to bring the old culture back into our society.”
Mr. Burris, who reaches a vast audience through his social media platforms, expressed deep admiration for the Shen Yun performers’ dedication. “I was very blessed to see the uniqueness of how well they danced and performed,” he said. “It was amazing that people could do such great work for us to see and enjoy. It was beautiful.”
He spoke candidly about the dangers of atheism and the loss of traditional values. “What is seriously going bad is atheism,” he said. “You see the hate, the anger, and the bitterness coming. Without reviving traditional values, we’re doomed.”
The final piece, which depicts the Creator’s salvation during times of peril, was the most moving moment for Mr. Burris. “The moment that touched me most was the Creator coming back,” he said.
“Everybody was praising Him and thanking Him,” he continued, referring to the dance portraying the survivors’ gratitude toward the Creator. “We do have a Creator who can save us in these troubled times. Mankind needs our Creator; without Him, it’s not going to be good.”
Mr. Burris viewed the performance as a universal message of hope and redemption that transcends specific terminology. “They represent salvation. They represent getting rid of sin, wickedness, and darkness, and keeping the old culture alive,” he said.
